UFC 22 – Only One Can Be Champion

UFC 22

UFC HISTORY

UFC 22: Only One Can be Champion was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on September 24, 1999 at the Lake Charles Civic Center in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

The event was headlined by a Light Heavyweight Championship bout between Frank Shamrock and Tito Ortiz. The Ortiz-Shamrock fight was notable for being widely considered one of the best MMA fights ever at the time it took place, due to the complete range of skills shown by both fighters. The bout featured back-and-forth action which saw multiple takedowns from Ortiz and crisp kickboxing displayed by Shamrock, who eventually forced Ortiz into submission with brutal punches, elbows, and hammerfists to the temple late in the 4th round. Shamrock would begin his short lived semi-retirement after this bout, citing a lack of competition.

UFC 22 marked the first UFC appearance of future UFC Welterweight Champion Matt Hughes, who would go on to dominate the UFC’s Welterweight division, as well as Jens Pulver, who fought in a preliminary bout that was not televised.

Brad Kohler scored one of the more infamous knockouts in MMA history. 30 seconds into Round 1, Kohler feigned a takedown attempt, only to land an explosive right cross. Steve Judson was knocked out instantly, and suffered a deep gash to his chin at the point of impact. Remaining unconscious and showing signs of having difficulty breathing, referees immediately signaled to the medical staff who administered oxygen treatment to Judson, who was taken out via stretcher to the local hospital.

The event was the second to feature rounds following the significant rule changes first introduced in UFC 21.

RESULTS SPOILER

Main Card

Weight class

Method

Round

Time

Notes

Light Heavyweight

Frank Shamrock (c)

def.

Tito Ortiz

Submission (punches)

4

4:42

[a]

Lightweight

Jens Pulver

vs.

Alfonso Alcarez

Draw

3

5:00

[b]

Heavyweight

Brad Kohler

def.

Steve Judson

KO (punch)

1

0:30

Heavyweight

Tim Lajcik

vs.

Ron Waterman

Draw

3

5:00

[c]

Lightweight

John Lewis

def.

Lowell Anderson

TKO (corner stoppage)

3

0:13

Lightweight

Matt Hughes

def.

Valeri Ignatov

Decision (unanimous)

3

5:00

[d]

Heavyweight

Jeremy Horn

def.

Jason Godsey

Submission (armlock)

1

2:08

Light Heavyweight

Chuck Liddell

def.

Paul Jones

TKO (cut)

1

3:53

Shamrock defeated Ortiz to retain the Light Heavyweight Championship.

Initially ruled a unanimous decision for Pulver, the decision was later overturned to a draw. This bout was not televised.

The bout was ruled a draw after three five-minute rounds.

Welterweight division did not exist yet.

UFC 22 – Only One Can Be Champion was last modified: January 10th, 2017 by Pepito Grillo